Where does “misdiagnosis” come from?
Misdiagnosis is a Middle English formation with mis- attached to diagnosis, which derives from Ancient Greek διάγνωσις, from διαγιγνώσκειν meaning to distinguish or discern, combining διά with roots from Proto-Indo-European ǵneh₃- and mey-.
misdiagnosis (English): An incorrect diagnosis
Ancestry of “misdiagnosis”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | diagnosis | The identification of the nature and cause of an... |
| 2 | Latin | diagnōsis | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | διάγνωσις | distinguishing; means of distinguishing ... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | διαγιγνώσκω | to discern; distinguish, discern |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | δῐᾰ- | apart; through, across; through; in different... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | διά | throughout |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dwís | twice, doubly; in two |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dwóh₁ | two |